Battery



Jan. 14,1947. i w, J, QUIRK. 2,414,210

BATTERY Filed June 24,V 1940 a 6@ 3.5' ENTOR Z0- 20 Y /emhafw/Q I A ORNEY.

Patented Jan. 14, 1947 FFlcEf BATTERY Wellington J. Quirk, Deerfield, Ill., assignor to Quirk Battery Company, Highland Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 24, 1940, Serial No. 342,033

1o claims. 1

The invention relates generally to a battery, and more particularly to a storage or wet cell battery. 'I'his application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 209,903, filed May 25, 1938. 4

One object of the invention is to provide a storage battery of new and improved construction, rendering the same leak-proof in all `positions thereof, in order that the battery shall be adapta- 'ble for many uses for which storage or wet cell batteries have heretofore been unsuitable.

Another object is to provide a storage battery having venting means of new and improved construction and in a unique location, permitting ready and constant venting of the battery while preventing leakage of the electrolyte through the venting means.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a wet cell battery in which splashing of the electrolyte within the battery, due to movement or change of position of the battery, and the possibility 'of leakage, are reduced to a minimum by the provision of means in the nature of an absorbent packingadjacent the plates, which prevents splashing while permitting free circulation of the electrolyte and free access thereof to the plates.

A further object is the perfection of a small storage battery which corresponds in size and shape to the dry cell of a flashlight, and which has terminals at its ends to permit substitution of such storage battery for a dry cell in a ashlight.

It is also an object 'of the invention to provide a storage battery constructed in a manner which renders it simple and convenient to assemble the parts and to secure them in permanently assembled relation.

Yet another object is the perfection of a small, compact storage battery, having a casing generally cylindrical in shape, with a closure member for one end provided with a metallic terminal with a lead connected thereto and supporting one of the plates, and with vent means and a shield structure ril assembled on said closure, together with a. closure for the other end of the cylinder embodying a centrally disposed metallic terminal with a lead connecting with and supporting the otherplate within the casing.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying draw- Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially as indicated at the line 2--2 on Fig. 1`.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated at the line 3-3 on Fig. l.

` Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken as that the invention be limited thereto or thereby,

but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

As shown in the drawing, the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein includes a generally cylindrical casing comprising a tubular body 5 having a preferably integral bot.- tom Wall 6 and a separate cap or cover portion 1. These parts may be composed of any suitable material impervious to acid, such as rubber, or some of the synthetic plastic materials such as the transparent composition known as (methyl methacrylate). The use of the latter composition has the advantage that the quantity of electrolyte in the battery may readily be observed. It is not so important that the cap l be of transparent material, but it is convenient to make it of the same material as the tubular part 5, so that the tubular body and the cover can be readily cemented together. The-cap 1 is provided with a depending skirt portion 8 which flts snugly within thev cylindrical body 5 when the parts are assembled.` As shown in the drawing, the tubular casing stands upright, and for many purposes it may be so mounted in lits position of use; but it is a feature of this invention' that the battery is so constructed that it maybe employed as a substitute for a dry cell subject to movement and change of position, and, accordingly,

the battery illustratedv is of the proportions commonly employed in a flashlight of average size, and replaces two dry cells.

Disposed within the cylindrical body d of the casing and spaced at some distance from 'the cap 1 are a pair of plates or electrodes `9 and lll. These plates may be formed as hollow grids, in

-a well understood manner, and each lpacked with a quantity of active material in paste form aswith longitudinally extending ribs I In on-the face which is disposed against the negative plate 9, thus providing clearance grooves I-I" for the escape of gas which forms on this plate.

Preferably, the plates and the separator II are spaced a short distancev from the lower end of the casing, and this space, as well as the space around the plates and within `the tubular wall Ii, is lled with absorbent means I2 in the nature of a loose and porous packing of acid-resisting material, for which purpose glass wool has been found to be very suitable. The plates il and I are'bathed in the usual manner by suitable electrolyte I4 with which the packing material I2 is substantially saturated, but vwhich does not normally extend above the level of the packing in the casing 5. stices oi' the packing material aiordample opportunity for circulation of the electrolyte, while the substantially capillary proportions of these spaces operate to prevent the liquidffrom iiowing toward the open spaces in the l'casing when the battery is temporarily tipped on its side, or inverted It will be apparent from the foregoing description that, with the plates constructed in the manner described, and with the spaces adjacent the plates substantially filled with absorbent packing material, the amount of electrolyte required to maintain the plates submerged is reduced to a minimum. Thus there is practically no free electrolyte in the casing, and no splashing of the electrolyte. with resultant possibility of leakage; and when the battery is placed on its side, or inverted, an ample quantity "of electrolyte will be maintained by the packing in contact with both plates.

vAt the saine time, it is'found by experience that the glass wool prevents oxides from settling to the bottom and building an undesirable deposit of sediment. The presence of the glass wool also operates to retard the bubbling of the electrolyte during the charging of the battery; and the bub-V bles which form are held captive, to a large ex.

tent, in the glass wool until, on combining, they l ilnally escape or break.

In order lfurther to adapt the battery for use in place of the dry cell, and, more particularly,

- as a flashlight battery, the plates 9 and I0 are connected to terminals located axially of the battery casing and at its opposite ends, respectively. As shown inthe drawing, the plate 9 is connected by a lead I1 to a metallic terminal I8, which may Ibe molded in the cap 1 in fluid-tight relation, or tightly screw-threadedtherein, as shown. The plate Il) is connected .by a lead I9 to a metallic terminal 20 at the opposite end of the battery, also in a fluid-tight relationship, which, as shown, issecured partly by threaded engagement. Both leads ,Iland I9 have a fluid-tight fit in their respective terminals I8 and 20, and also have a good electrical contact therewith obtained in a conventional manner, as by soldering or welding. The terminals I8 and 20 are both located substantally in co-axial relation in the casing, the

terminal 20 having a large at head portion Vwhich covers ,almost the entire lower end 6 of the casing in simulation of the construction oi' dry cells used for ashlights.

The intercommunicating intert In order that the interior of the battery ,may be vented to permit the escape of gas formed as a result of the chemical action, special venting means is provided which is of such construction,

yand so positioned, as to insure that there will be no leakage of the electrolyte by way of the vent openings. regardless' oi the position which the battery may assume, andI regardless of bodily movements which may be imparted thereto; 'Ihis venting means includes a funnel-like shield 2i which is shown connected in fluid-tight relation to the skirt 8 of the cap 1. 'I'his shield de pends from the skirt 8 and becomes progressively smaller in'diameter, terminating in an annular collar 2Ia through which the lead I1 extends. The collar 2i may be made as a loose fit around the lead I1, with sufiiclent clearance at 22 to serve as a vent passage leading from the space which contains the plates and the electrolyte and in which space the gas is originally formed. Thus, if any liquid should nd its way into the shield 2|, it will readily ilow -back through the vent 22 when the battery is placed yin upright position. The length of theshield 2l, that is. the distance from the skirt 8 to the lower edge of the collar 2 I. is such that the vent at 22 will be above the level of the electrolyte when the battery stands in upright position; and while the presence lof thesglass wool packing material I2 will prevent anysub stantial quantity of the electrolyte from flowing toward the upper end of the casing if the latter is inverted or placed on its side, such liquid as may free itself from the absorbent packing I2 will be easily accommodated in the space between the cylindrical wall 5 of the casing and the exterior of the corneal or funnel-like shield 2 I Either with the casing lying on its side, or fully inverted, the level of the liquid thus accumulating in the cavity adjacent the shield -2I will always be below the position of the vent 22 which is located closely adjacent the axis of the tubular body 5.

I'o dene the upper limit to which the packing material I2' extends in the casing, and to hold this packing in position, there is securedto the lead I1, just above the plates 9 and Ill, a disk 23, of Celluloid, rubber or other acid-resisting material. Such securement may be effected by means of a quantity of parailln applied in the form of a fillet 23 on the upper face of the disk adjacent the lead, and as a second llet 23b just below the disk; incidentally, this forms a leak-proof joint which tends to prevent the liquid electrolyte from trickling along the lead and into the shield 2l when the battery is inverted.

The interior of the shield 2I is ventedto atmosphere through means which further guards `against the leakage of electrolyte. This means tube and preferably onthe upper side thereof atv a point lying closely adjacent the axis of the battery, so that, regardless of the position of the battery, .the aperture 2x6 will always .be spacedl at a maximum distancev from the side walls of the battery. Arranged concentrically within the tube 24and spaced therefrom is a second tube 21 opening at its inner end to the space within the tube 24, and having the passage therein registering with the vent 2'5 of tube 24, and thus opening to atmosphere to complete the venting passage to the interior of the battery.

The tube 2li being screwed into a threaded aperture in the cap l, is removable for initially filling the battery with its proper charge of acid electrolyte and for adding water at intervals, when necessary. To render the structure leakproof, I include a rubber gasket 28 which may be seated in a recess 29 formed in the cap at the upper end of the threaded opening which receives the tube 2i; and the upper end of the tube is provided with a head 30 of any suitable noncircular conformation such that it may be grasped for unscrewing the tube and replacing it.

As seen in Fig. 1, the terminal I8 for the lead Il is screwed into a threaded boss 3| which extends inwardly from the under side of the cover 1. When the part I8 is to be set in place its threads are brushed with hot pitchand the part L8 is heated so that the pitch adheres to said part' while it is screwed into position in the cap 1. A small quantity of pitch is applied `to the under side of the boss 3| and 32, as well as between the head of the part I8 and the outer surface of the cap, as indicated at 33, to further seal the terminal in the cap. Similarly, the

terminal for the lead I8 is brushed with pitch and heated, then screwed into a threaded opening in the bottom wall 6; and inside the tubular casing a small quantity of pitch is applied around the threaded inner end of the terminal 2li at 34. An additional quantity of pitch is inserted between the flat head of the terminal 28 and the outer face of the bottom wall Stat 35,' and, preferably, said outer face is formed with an annular groove 6* which interengages an annular rib 2li' on the terminal 28, so that the rib presses the pitch into the groove 6 as the terminal is screwed into iinal position. When the leads and I8 are inserted respectively in the terminals I8 and 20, suilicient heat is applied (with the additionY of flux and solder, if desired) to form a metallic seal between each lead and its terminal, and the application of heat for this purpose softens and thins the pitch on the threads of the terminals I8 and 20, and'adjacent thereto, causing it to be drawn into the threads for completing the seal between the terminals and the end walls of l the casing. Even after cooling, the pitch remains in a suiliciently yieldable state to take up expansion and contraction between the metal of which the terminals I8 and 20 are composed, and the Lucite or other plastic material from which the `casing and its cap 'l are constructed.

When the shield 2| is tted into the skirt 8 of the cap 'I for assembly therewith, the upper edge of the shield and the inner surface of the skirt are coated with a cement or solvent suited to the particular material of which these parts are made, and serving to form a bond which renders the shield 2| substantially integral with the cap When the cap 'l is nnally fitted over the end of the tubular casing 5 the outer surface of its skirt `il and adjacent portions of the cap maybe similarly cemented to the tube 5 in a permanent and substantially integral bond. Thus the cavity of the casing s is sealed against leakage' chance i'or liquid to escape therefrom.

Preferably, the cap 'l is of outwardly convex 6 form, being shown as substantially conical. This brings the head 30 of the tube 24 onto the sloping outer surface of the cap 'I so that it does not vproject above the outer end of the metallic terv minal I 9 and thus will not interfere with contasting engagement of the terminal with a cooperating contact in a iiashlight or other structure in which the battery is used. Interiorly, the cap l is concave, forming a dome-shaped structure over the end of the tubular casing 5. The

the cap or dome 1 tends to lead such liquid outwardly and thence downwardly into the funnelshaped shield 2| for return to the porous material at vI2 instead of permitting it to accumulate on the lead I1 or its attached terminal |8.

' Thus, while' the quantity of' absorbent material, such as glass wool, at |2,'is normally suiiicient to hold all the liquid electrolyte in the battery when it is placed in its normal upright position, the structure Herein shown and described provides ample accommodation for any liquid which escapes from the porous packing I2` when. the cell is inverted or lies on its side, and such accommodation is so arranged that the free liquid shall at no time reach a level at which it could escape by way of the vents which are provided for releasing gas formed by chemical action in the battery. j

I claim as my invention:

l. In a storage battery having a casing composed'of an open-ended main portion and a cove'r portion having an annular depending skirt at its periphery sealed in the open en d of said main portion to provide a uidtight joint, means for venting the interior of the casing to atmosphere while preventing the escape of the liquid within the casing comprising a shield extending from the skirt in fluid-tight relation thereto, said shield having a progressively decreasing diameter and terminating in a tip centrally disposed in the casing with a vent aperture in said tip portion positioned above the normal level of liquid in the casing, said shield being otherwise imperforate, a first tube projecting through the cover portion and into the space confined by lthe shield, said tube having a threaded engagethe cover portion and said shield, and a smaller tube opening at one end to the space within said first tube and at the other end registering with the opening in the outer end `of said'iirst tube to complete the venting passage for the interior of the casing.

2. A storage battery comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing including a cover therefor, a plurality of plates positioned upright in the 'lower portion of said casing, a liquid electrolyte in vsaicl easing normally' covering said plates when said casing is in an upright position, a porous packing material nlling the space occupied by said electrolyte between the casing and -tion and a cover portion,

the'plates to a point a short distance above thel top of said plates, means for venting the upper portion of said casing comprising a rst tubular member substantially integral with said cover and extending downwardly to a position above the normal level of the electrolyte, said member being imperforate save for a venting aperture adjacentits lower end, a second tubular member projecting through the cover to a point within the first tubular member and having a venting aperture adjacent its lower end and a third tubular member positioned within the second tubular member and having a venting aperture adjacent its inner end and its outer end opening to atmosphere, and a lead extending from one of the plates through the lower tubular member adjacent its venting aperture and through said member to a terminal iixed in the cover, together with a disk of acid-resisting material sealed on said lead, constituting a iiange extending transversely from all sides of the lead end of the rstabove said porous packing and below the venting aperture of said iirst tubular member, said disk being dimensioned to extend adjacent the wall of the casing but not into contact therewith, said disk being secured tothe lead in liquid-tight engagement therewith.

3L A storage battery comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular casing having a main portion and a cover portion joined to said casing in fluid-tight relation, plates in the main portion with a quantity of electrolyte in which the platesare bathed, and a lead extending from one of said plates through the cover in sealed relation thereto, said c over being of dome-shaped formation and the lead extending substantially through the center thereof with the under surface of the cover sloping outwardly from the vicinity of the lead, a'nd a downwardly extending shield joined to the marginal portion of the cover to constitute a continuation of its outwardly sloping inner surface, said shield converging downwardly toward the lead and enclosing the portion of the same adjacent thecover, said shield having a vent in its lower portion and the cover having a vent leading from within the shield.

4. A storage battery comprising. in combination, an Velongated tubular easing having a main vpora Huid-tight joint between said portions, a plurality of plates in said mam portion, a lead extending from one of said plates through the cover surrounding the plates and filling the space between them and the side walls of the casing, a hollow shield depending from the cover portion and enclosing a space within the casing adjacent the cover and around said lead, said space having a vent for gas leading out through the cover and a vent leading in adjacent said lead, and a disk on the lead in. liquid-tight relation thereto positioned between the ends of the plates andl said shield preventing the electrolyte from running along the lead directly from the plates in liquid-tight',` relation f `thereto, a liquid electrolyte in the casing normally covering the plates, a porous packing and into the hollow shield when the battery is inverted.

5. A storage battery comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular casing having a main portion" and a cover portion completing said caS-' ing witha'iiuid-tight joint between said portions of the casing, a plurality of plates in the main one of said plates extending portion, a lead from centrally through the cover and having a terminal sealed therein,

`means for venting the in plastic material,

disposed substantially at the axis ofthe casing,

and a second tube positioned axially within the rst tube in spaced relation to the side walls thereof and terminating short of the inner end of the rst tube, said second tube having a passage communicating with atmosphere.

,6. A storage battery comprising, in combinatio an elongated tubular casing having a main a cover portion, each of synthetic plastic material, an interiiowed substantially integral bond providing a sealed completely iluidtight joint between said portions, a plurality of plates in said main portion, a liquid electrolyte in the casing normally covering the plates, a packing o glass wool surrounding the plates and filling the space between them and the side walls of the casing to reduce to a minimum the amount of free electrolyte and to retain electrolyte about the plates by capillary attraction when the battery is inverted, means for venting the interior of said casing to atmosphere while preventing.

escape of electrolyte in any position of the battery comprising a funnel-like shield extending inwardly from the cover portion in fluid-tight relation thereto to provide between it and the side walls of the casing a space for holding free electrolyte when the battery is inverted, and apair of tubes onewithin the other projecting through the cover portion into the space confined by the shield and providing a liquid trapping path' for the escape of air, a pair of leads one extending upwardly from one of the plates through the tip of said funnel-like shield and the other extending downwardly from the other 'of said plates, an annular disk surroundingly sealed onto said upwardly extending lead intermediate the plate and said shield to prevent ow of electrolyte along the lead into said shield, a threaded metallic terminal on each lead having a liquidtight connection therewith, the cover portion and the closed end of the main portion of said casing each having a threaded opening in which a threaded terminal is fitted, and a quantity of plastic yieldable sealing material adhesively engaging the adjoining surfaces of the casing and each terminal inside of the casing and overlapping any space between the threads of the casing and the threads of the terminal to seal the casing at those points,

7. A storage battery comprising, in combination, an elongated tubular casing having a main portion and a cover portion, each of synthetic a substantially integral bond providing a sealed completely uid-tight joint between said portions, a plurality of plates in said main portion, a liquid electrolyte in the casing normally covering the plates, a packing of porous material surrounding the plates and lling the space between them and the side walls of the 'casing to reduce to a minimum the amount o! l free electrolyte and to yretain electrolyte about the plates by capillary attraction when the battery is inverted, means for venting the interior of said casing to atmosphere while preventing escape of electrolyte in any position of the battery comprising a funnel-like shieldV extending inwardly from the cover portion in duid-tight relation thereto to provide between it and the side walls of the casing a space for holding free electrolyte when the battery is inverted, and a pair of tubes one within the other projecting through the cover portion into the space confined by the shield and providing a. liquid trapping path for the escape of air, a lead extending from each of the plates, one of the leads extending l@ venting the interior of said casing toatmosphere while preventing escape of electrolyte in any position of the battery `comprising a t `funnel-like .shield extending inwardly from the cover prtion in fluid-tight relation thereto to provide be.

tween it and the side walls of the casing a space for holding free electrolyte when the battery is 'l inverted, and a pair of tubes one within the the threaded terminals are iitted, and a quantity of plastic yieldable sealing material adhesively engaging the adjoining surfaces of the casing and each terminal inside of the casing and overlapping any space between the threads of the casing and the ,threads'of the terminal to seal the casing at those points. 8. A storage battery comprising, in combina tion, an elongated tubular casing having a main portion and a cover portion each of nonmetallic material, a sealed completely huid-tight joint between said portions, a plurality of plates in said main portion,a liquidelectrolyte in the casing normally covering the plates, a packing oi' porous material surrounding the plates and lling the space between them and the side walls of the casing to reduce to a minimum the amount of free electrolyte and to retain electrolyte about the plates by capillary attraction when the battery is inverted, means for venting the interior of said casing to atmosphere while preventing escape of electrolyte in any position of the battery, a pair of leads one extending upwardly from one ofthe plates and the other extending downwardly from the other or said plates, a

threaded metallic terminal on each lead having a liquid-,tight connection therewith, the cover portion and the closed end of the main portion ot said casing each having a threaded opening in which a threaded terminal is tted, and a quantity of plastic yleldable sealing material adhesively engaging the adjoining surfaces of the casing and each terminal inside of the casing and overlapping any Space between the threads of the electrolyte in the casing normally covering the plates, 'a packing of glass wool surrounding the plates and illling the space between them and the side walls o! the casing to reduce to a mini. mum the amount of free electrolyte and to retain other projecting through the cover portion into the space conned by the shield and providing a liquid trapping path for the escape of air, a lead extending from each of the plates, one of the leads .extending through the tip of said funnellike shield and outwardly through said cover portion, an annular disk surroundingly sealed onto said last mentioned lead intermediate the plate and said shield to prevent ilow of electrolyte along the lead into said shield, and a metallic terminal on each lead having a liquid-tight connection therewith and each terminal having a portion projecting through and sealed in the casing.

10. In the manufacture of a wet cell for a ashlight or the like having a non-metallic casing composed of a tubular, main' portion open at one end and closed at the other and a cover porltion, the closed end of the main portion :and the cover portion each having a threaded aperture formed therein for the reception of a terminal, a pair of plates each having a lead extending therefrom, and a metallic terminal for each lead having a head. a threaded shank for threaded reception in the threaded openings in the casing, and an aperture for the reception of a lead; the steps of assembling the wet cell and of forming an electrolyte-tight seal between the casing and the terminals comprising coating the inner surface oi.' the head and the threads of one of the terminals with hot pitch while the terminal is heated, threading the terminal with the pitch in a heated state into the threaded opening in the closed end of the main portion of the casing, forming a layer of pitch over the crevice between the terminal and the casing on the inside of the casing, coating the inner surface of the head and the threads of the other terminal with hot pitch while the terminal is heated, threading the terminal with the pitch in a heated state intothe threaded opening in the cover portion, forming a layer ci pitch over the crevice between the terminal and the cover portion on the inside of the cover portion, inserting the plates in the casing with the lead of one plate inserted into the terminal in the bottom wall of the main body portion, applying heat to the terminal to solder the lead to the terminal and simultaneously to sortenthe layer of pitch on the inside i of the casing enabling further iiow thereof into the crevice between the terminal and the casing, applying the cover portion to the main portion with the -remaining lead received in the terminal in the cover portion, sealing the cover portion to the main portion and applying heat to the tex'- minal to solder the lead to the terminal and sielectrolyte about the plates by capillary attraction when the battery is inverted, means for.

multaneously to soften the layer of pitch on the waumcron J. Quran. 

